Desert Arabian
04-27-2003, 08:22 PM
Yesterday, my dad I were driving around scouting for turkeys (up at our cottage), when I noticed a large "hump" on the side of the road. I noticed it was a turtle so I made my dad stop the truck. I got out and walked over to it- it was rather large in size. I had never seen a turtle that looked like this. I am used to sliders, snappers, and painted turtles. This guy had a large domed shell and yellow spots all over it. I quickly realized that this was a Blanding's Turtle, which is a "threatened" species in Wisconsin. He was headed towards a really steep slope and woods. I looked in the woods and noticed a little stream. So I picked him up off of the road and carried it down to the stream. I set 'em down on the bank and took a couple of steps back...and watched him dip into the water. I am so happy I saved a threatened species; it most likely would have died on the road. Makes me feel good inside! :) :) I have pictures of the turtle, but I can't find the cord thingy for the digital camera, I'll wait til ma gets home from Target.
This isn't the first turtle I have rescued. I have rescued many turtles, especially during breeding season. It's my "seasonal hobby". I rescue turtles every spring. I feel so bad for them, when I see them crossing the road to get from pond to pond- you know they won't make it. So I help them. What ever direction they are facing, is the direction in which I take them.
When we were driving home from our cottage, I saw a dead snapping turtle, it was pretty big- so it was pretty old, and that made me very sad. Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I rescued a Painted turtle in Indiana on our spring break vacation. We were going on the on-ramp to get on the free way, and it was sitting in the middle of the ramp. There was nobody behind us, so we stopped, and I jumped out. As I was jogging to the pond it was headed to, and older gentleman and his wife came up in a van. When they saw I was saving a turtle they smiled and waved. It would have died for sure; it was in the direct path of traffic. My favorite type of turtle to save are snapping turtles, those are my favorite. I have rescued two snapping turtles, I have seen too many of them on the side of the road, since they are so big and slow--so those are on my top of my "to save" list.
Last summer at horse camp, we were going on a trail ride. We were on a trail that was sandy and next to the lake. There was a turtle laying her eggs on the trail...so...My friend Madi and I stood there with our horses making sure she wouldn't get stepped on by other horses. :rolleyes: :p
Yep, I'm kinda silly and weird, but hey- it saves turtles and makes me happy! So, I guess that's what counts! I could do on and on about turtles...I love em! (I love a lot of wild critters!!)
Ok, I'm done, just had to share that with everyone. hehe. Here is a neat little info site on the Blanding's Turtle...please read it: The Blanding's Turtle (http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/jnjkapfer/blandings_turtle.htm)
:o
This isn't the first turtle I have rescued. I have rescued many turtles, especially during breeding season. It's my "seasonal hobby". I rescue turtles every spring. I feel so bad for them, when I see them crossing the road to get from pond to pond- you know they won't make it. So I help them. What ever direction they are facing, is the direction in which I take them.
When we were driving home from our cottage, I saw a dead snapping turtle, it was pretty big- so it was pretty old, and that made me very sad. Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I rescued a Painted turtle in Indiana on our spring break vacation. We were going on the on-ramp to get on the free way, and it was sitting in the middle of the ramp. There was nobody behind us, so we stopped, and I jumped out. As I was jogging to the pond it was headed to, and older gentleman and his wife came up in a van. When they saw I was saving a turtle they smiled and waved. It would have died for sure; it was in the direct path of traffic. My favorite type of turtle to save are snapping turtles, those are my favorite. I have rescued two snapping turtles, I have seen too many of them on the side of the road, since they are so big and slow--so those are on my top of my "to save" list.
Last summer at horse camp, we were going on a trail ride. We were on a trail that was sandy and next to the lake. There was a turtle laying her eggs on the trail...so...My friend Madi and I stood there with our horses making sure she wouldn't get stepped on by other horses. :rolleyes: :p
Yep, I'm kinda silly and weird, but hey- it saves turtles and makes me happy! So, I guess that's what counts! I could do on and on about turtles...I love em! (I love a lot of wild critters!!)
Ok, I'm done, just had to share that with everyone. hehe. Here is a neat little info site on the Blanding's Turtle...please read it: The Blanding's Turtle (http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/jnjkapfer/blandings_turtle.htm)
:o